Superintendent outlines goals: transparent budgets, measurable strategic plan and stronger CTE pathways

The superintendent (S3) laid out a set of priorities for the coming year, asking the board to provide direction before staff advances detailed plans. The goals emphasized transparent, balanced budgeting; a measurable strategic plan based on a common language with the community; building staff/family trust; improving instructional and student data systems; and strengthening CTE pathways.

S3 explained the approach: start with a foundation of clear, simple maxims the community can understand, then identify a small set of measurable indicators to track progress. "When you come up with these values, this vision, and you start to build your foundation, you then have to say, well, if that's what we truly believe, are we doing it?" S3 said, arguing that measurable indicators and a reporting cadence are required for the board to hold the district accountable.

On budgeting, S3 said the first goal will be to produce transparent, balanced budgets and give regular updates to the board, and S4 (Board member) described those budget and performance items as already mostly clear. Board members pressed for realistic measures and cautioned against adding tasks that increase teacher workload without clear benefit.

S3 also proposed that instructional priorities—attendance, academic achievement and graduation rates—be tracked and tied into CTE pathway work so students see the connection between core skills and career options. The board discussed timing for reporting (suggested checkpoints such as November, February, April and June) and the need to map existing data systems to new indicators.

The superintendent will return with more detailed metrics, timelines and operational plans for the goals; the board requested the more detailed work at the next meeting cycle.